olrowdy01, Thank your for your trust and support!

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[ TrustMe ],

Great that you can boot from CD ... now, what computer, what OS, and what CMOS BIOS settings do you have?
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The first computer I tried was an Ailenware laptop, bought in 2012. It has the old BIOS. It is running Windows 10 Pro with the latest build 1803.

I tried it on a second computer, an HP Pavilion, bought in 2018. It has UEFI. It is also running Windows 10 with build 1803. The program worked great on this laptop.

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[ TrustMe ],

So ... it seems as if something in one computer is not revealing itself to this program, and instead of reporting where it hangs, it just hangs.

I suppose you could make temporary changes to legacy boot and UEFI to see if the boot CD can finally 'see' what it needs to see -- even move the drive you want to clear passwords from to another computer, and see if it's 'seeable' there, or not -- it the problem the drive or the computer?

Try the drive that did work in the computer that didn't work, and see if the drive suddenly can't be 'seen' -- divide the parts and conquer the settings to make sure whatever you setup can be serviced in the future if needed, instead of only finding out later that certain ways to set up that computer make it impossible to clear passwords.

Also try another password clearer program.

I'm curious to learn how things work out -- good luck.
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Thanks, [ mike ].

Note, if a password exceeds 14 characters, there may be no way to overcome it being lost, as it may not be stored in any analyzable hash.

So, if you want an impenetrable password for yourself, or to lock others out of their own computers, a 14+ character password is the way to go:

[ nineteen characters ]

is a good long password, and easy to remember ( it's 19 characters long ).

;-)
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John Dhorthose, Hi, You can contact 4WinKey Support for help. https://www.4winkey.com/support/support.htm

Yuval, it's likely intended for installation on a different machine than the one you're trying to use.

Yuval, Hi, You need to install the program on another Windows computer (Not the PC you wanna unlock) to burn a CD/DVD/USB. . After that, you can boot your computer with the burned CD/DVD/USB to remove the admin password.

Shyann, It does not do that.
The free program that is offered here only detects the users, but does not remove the admin password.
To remove the password, it asked me to buy the full software.

Ossie, Hi, If you wanna burn a USB flash drive, you can upgrade Standard to Professional at the special price $9.9 in the website.

PD, The pre-activated WinKey Standard download link is only available for 48 hours for giveaway. Have you downloaded it during the promo?

Pops, I don't see "create password reset disk" in my control panel. Help, please. Thanks.

givmeabrake,

Surprisingly, it actually is there, under "User Accounts". Can be stored on a USB flash drive too. Not sure if it would reset the main login password for the lock screen though. Would have to try it and see, although on many home computers the main user is also the administrator so it should work.

Handy to know and I'll have to create a reset USB myself - tomorrow!

Springy, yes an official password reset/recovery disc or USB stick is a standard windows NT feature existed in XP too, you get offered the option to reset the password if you fail to enter the correct password a couple of times and the hint does not help, after you accept the offer to reset the password yo uare asked to provide the previously created disc/USB stick to procede. I believe but have not tested it that this official method retains windows protected store data where as these sledgehammer 3rd party password deleters strip selected accounts passwords and wipe the protected storage data.

TK, Thanks for your explanation, but my situation is a bit academic anyway as I have a techie son :) He has setup nightly backups for me using VEEAM to an offsite NAS. He gave me a USB that I need to use if I ever need to.

Had forgotten this when I made my reply the other night.

pretty pointless for an Windows XP as that operating system is so easy to hack, all you need to do is boot up with Command Prompt and use the "netuser" command to change passwords of any account and even gain access to the super hidden system account. No software needed!!

Gerome, try snaildriver a free utility to update your drivers..worked for me like a charm. I recently wanted a dual boot of xp and w7.
If you have the xp disc and key, windows activation by phone still works..hope it helps.

Ashok, SnailDriver does not support XP. Wise Driver Care, support XP and has a much larger database of drives than SnailDriver has.

Roger, Thanks...I realized it this morning. Thanks for the guidance.

Niv, have you tried to type '1'?

Gerome,

Yes I tried but it will not accept anything but 0 (quit). Another password resetter stated that there was no password but there clearly is. There's even a password hint, "tigers", below the password box.

Niv, Try 'lions' !

Niv, lions and bears oh my

Niv, Clebson, Auburn, Detroit... Shouldn't be too hard...

Niv, Try Bengal, Siberian, Leicester.

Dave J,

ThanksDave J and all other people who replied.Tried them all but no luck. Any other ideas?

Niv, If you try lots of wrong passwords windows locks out the account and even if you guess the right one eventually, you will never know as the account remains locked out until the locked flag is reset. I have found rebooting into safe mode seems to release the lockout.. There are several 3rd party programs that remove accounts windows login passwords and reset the locked flag. Some are free features of other recovery programs some are paid for tools. Some have been given away on this site before.

try the free home version of http://www.lazesoft.com/lazesoft-recover-my-password-edition-comparison.html

Niv, Good to know you can boot your unlocked computer into 4WinKey password reset interface. Which Windows installation path did you choose? After that, you can choose the user you want to reset password on.

mark, Glad to hear that!

Senior, the cited text has been in use for ages. It means you have 24 hours to use the contents of the zip to install the giveaway. The giveaway itself can be used as long as your Windows machine keeps running. A re-install of Windows will almost always mean the end of the giveaway.

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[ Senior ],

IF you find that the program or the created CD stop working, THEN:

-- Make a CD now, and when you boot any computer, set it's CMOS BIOS date to 2018-06-23 before booting to the CD.

-- The program itself that makes a CD may call home, so run your computer off the internet with the computer date set to 2018-06-23 to make a new CD whenever you want to.
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Senior, "contents of the downloaded archive" means the setup.... which means you can not install this after the GOTD-period (which is clearly stated above), like most of the software offered here...
It does not mean you can not 'use' the software anymore (after you've installed it), after the GOTD-period.

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[ Martin ],

Google search for programs that take a CD ISO and mount it in a USB flash drive, and that'l accomplish your goal -- [ mount cd iso flash drive ].

I had to do the same with a Win ISO from Dell that was for CD only ... been using it on a thumb drive very well.

Note, THIS ISO is on your computer at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\4WinKey Standard Full\\PassFab_4WinKey_Standard.iso
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Peter, I doubt this will work. In order to remove the User-Passwords, the Computer has to BOOT the Linux OS from the CD/DVD.

Gerome, I'm not sure this won't work as I have a Linux OS boot USB, so it is possible to boot into a linux os via USB.

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[ Gerome ],

Yes, and for computers that can boot to USB, using today's GOTD ISO and burning it to USB via a self-provided utility that makes bootable USB from bootable CD ISO does the trick.

Since it worked for me, I'm sharing my successful experience.
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Tapet Klister, is it possible, your antivirus program have something to do with it. Then, it isn't for the first time.

muhozah nhabhindi,
oh c' mon stop whining!

The rating is an answer to the question "Did you find this comment useful?"

Obviously, some people do not.

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[ Tapet Klister ],

Among other things, try these:

-- make your screen resolution native / recommended and your fonts 100% not 125% or other,

-- reboot in safe mode.

Let us know if you resolve it.
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Tapet Klister, Hi, May I know what system and computer model do you use? Is it 32 bit or 64 bit?